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Virgil

Six Weeks

Today made six weeks since we left home. I have to say itís getting tiresome. We were supposed to get a court date by the end of the week and it didnít come through. Now theyíre saying weíll know possibly by Monday afternoon. I hope so. My job is getting antsy. We were hoping for a quick court date to make up for the delay at the beginning, and it didnít happen. I had said I would be back at work sometime before the end of June. Then I told them I would be back by the fourth of July. Now it looks like at least a week after that.

I may have explained this in replies to comments, but let me put it here too. The court date is the big day. Thatís where we get interrogated as to why we are worthy and capable of adopting. The judge will make a decision. There is no guarantee, even after all this, that we will be approved. I donít see why we wouldnít but itís always possible.

We were told by our translator that usually the judge makes a decision right then at court. But the last time he went through it, the judge took over a week. It took the British couple about two weeks to find out. So the trend may be away from an instant decision and to longer intervals. Once the judge approves, then there is another two week period to allow appeals. I guess this allows the family of the child to change their mind. Itís at that point we will be informed that Matthew is completely ours.

After our court appearance, whether weíre approved on the spot or not, we will be heading home. We still have one stop to make. Our fingerprints, believe it or not, have expired again and we have decided to have them redone at the American Consulate in Almaty rather than back home. We will have to connect planes in Almaty anyway. But then we go home and wait for the decision and the appeal process. If approved, then the government here needs another two weeks or so to write up all of Matthewís documents and certificates with his new name and generate a passport. At that point we come back out to pick up and go. So if all goes well, we should have Matthew home by early August.

Last week the Baby House asked for a donation. We knew this was part of the process. We had anticipated a monetary donation, but what they wanted was a cabinet with a sink. So on Friday the driver and translator took us to the part of town with the home construction bodegas and we stopped at a cabinet making store. I donít know how they do business here, but after the driver and the store owner talked in Kazak or Russian, they came to a price of 30,000 Tenge (just over $200). No dimensions were given, no invoice generated, no receipt written. An agreement was made and we just handed over the money, and sometime next week the cabinet would be finished and delivered. We are getting off easy if thatís all they want as a donation. We had anticipated more than that, even if we still have to buy a faucet for the sink.

Weíre getting on each otherís nerves being out here this long. Itís not easy being tied to the hip for six weeks and stuck in a small apartment. We donít have that much to do during the day and almost nothing on the weekends. Neither of us goes out on our own. We canít even get into a car and just ride. TV is essentially useless since there is no English. Thank God for the World Cup or the TV would be a complete bust.

We bought some melons on Friday after the cabinet store. I had seen some melons being sold along the street and I had our driver stop at a good fruit and vegetable market. I picked a nice watermelon and the driver suggested we try one of these yellow melons. Ok, I bought one of each. We finished that yellow melon in a snap. It was delicious. Iím not sure we have that kind of melon back home. Itís yellow on the outside and has whitish flesh inside and itís sort of crispy like an apple almost and very sweet. We loved it. We just tried the watermelon and it was very good too.

So much for now. Iíll leave you with a couple of pictures. This time Iíll feature my wife and Matthew.

This next one has a little story to it. Matthew just loves being walked around and sticking his head though doors and rooms and just being nosey. We stick our heads into rooms all the time. Here my wife took him up to the glass door and showed him the glass with me being on the other side. He was fascinated with the glass and touched it. The next day, one of the Baby House workers stopped us in the playroom and told us not to have Matthew touch the glass. It leaves fingerprints and her Director believes she doesnít clean. LOL, Matthew got into trouble for the first time.

And finally Matthew and my wife in an outside crib under a gazebo. My wife gets the best smiles out of him. No question he can tell our genders and reacts accordingly. In fact, with all the women that work at the Baby House, Iím probably the only adult male heís ever had contact with.

I still pray all works out. Government red tape--sigh. I want the three of you guys home with your son. Also hoping your company hangs in you being supportive. It will all be worth it in the end. Thanks for keeping us all updated.

Don't forget to was melons thoroughly before eating!!!
Those kinds of melon you can't find in Europe it's for sure, nor in North America.
Do you believe in destiny?
Eventually everything turns for good!

Rich, Qimi - Yeah my job is not going to fire me, and after all maternity leave would be a lot longer than I'm taking off. But still, they're getting edgy with the things. They are missing me and though I know things are well on my project, people's schedules are being affected. They'll understand in the end once I'm back. A week plus or minus is not going to change things. I guess it's the lack of fixed dates that's making me edgy too.

Patience dear Virgil... Young Matthew will be in his daddy's arms soon enough. That's when you will have new worries, doctors, dentists, schools, uni, partners... This list is never ending. Good luck.
Did I mention how cute Matthew is?
xox

The two of you are getting close. Hopefully this last part will move quickly, and your work will not be too put out by the whole ordeal. Just keep thinking of the prize, and the both of you try not to let nerves over the court date get the better of you. I'm sure you will do fine, you just have to wait a bit longer.

Much Love,
Meg

By the way, I would love a picture of the melon. I may have to try and find it. I'm always on the look out for new fruit ;)

I can only imagine how anxious you are for this time to pass, to get to the judge, to get the right decision, to get your darling Mathew and bring him home! Great pictures of the little one. The expressions on Puss n' Boots' face make her look like a radiant new mother!

Great update Virgil. I can't imagine the judge would turn you down. I mean, you did tell him/her that you were a regular poster to Litnet, right? I mean that should seal the deal right there. . . . or, on second thought. . . .